Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

LITTLE BY LITTLE

“The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.” – Deuteronomy 7:22.

For most of us, growth and development is never happening fast enough. Whether it is our personal growth, someone else’s, or the growth of a group we’re a part of, it can be frustrating when it seems to be going slowly. Somehow, we always assume that the process should move along more quickly than it does. The frustration and discouragement grow when what you want to happen stalls ultimately. We want a breakthrough, a miracle, or for God to work quickly.

The reality is that God is not in a hurry. He doesn’t feel the same pressure we feel to get things done by our timetable. Unlike us, God seems to be perfectly at peace with allowing things to progress gradually and in increments.

When we think things are too slow, we must step back and remember that while accepting Jesus as your Savior took a few moments, our transformation to be more Christlike will take a lifetime. In other words, to become the person God intends for you to become and realize your potential in Jesus fully will involve a gradual process. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Deuteronomy 7:22 explains God’s strategy for helping the Israelites take possession of the Promised Land. That phrase in verse 22 is key: “little by little.” How would God give them the Promised Land? Not all at once in “one fell swoop,” but “little by little.”  If the land were cleared too quickly, wild animals would multiply and create new problems for the Israelites. This gradual approach ensured that the Israelites could settle the land securely, managing it as they went rather than being overwhelmed by rapid changes. God’s plan involved defeating the enemies and maintaining the land’s stability and sustainability for His people. This reveals a spiritual principle: that God often works — not only in Israel but in our lives too — “little by little.”

Sometimes, God may act quickly, and we experience that breakthrough, and God moves quickly, but more often than not, He works little by little. The good news is that God’s timing is perfect. Even when it feels slow to us, He’s moving in ways we can’t see. Maybe you’re waiting for a breakthrough in your marriage, finances, health, or spiritual life. You might feel like you’ve been wandering in the wilderness like the Israelites for a while now. But know this—God is faithful and working on your behalf, even when you can’t see it. He’s shaping your story, refining your faith, and preparing you for something greater.

The Lord changes us a little at a time.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can we learn to lean into the process and trust God’s timing? 
  2. What does “little by little” mean to our spiritual growth this week?

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